Many horse owners are familiar with giving a magnesium supplement to the horse. Different types of magnesium are offered, but why do we actually use it? And which form of magnesium is best and why?
The function of minerals
Pure magnesium is a metal, but because it has made a connection with, for example, oxygen, it becomes magnesium oxide and is a mineral. For example, there are many types of magnesium compounds, such as magnesium citrate, magnesium chelate and magnesium sulphate, known as bitter salt. In this writing we mean by magnesium the mineral.
Each mineral has a co-operator or counterpart, the most important of which is: With magnesium it is calcium (1: 2-3), calcium and phosphorus (2: 1), zinc and copper (7: 1) and potassium and sodium (3: 1 ). The trend is that calcium, phosphorus, sodium and copper are often too abundant in horse feed and magnesium, zinc and potassium are too little. In short, calcium provides the tension and magnesium as a counterpart for relaxation. A magnesium deficiency occurs, for example, if there is too much of a calcium content and the ratio to each other is out of balance. These shortages of magnesium or calcium surpluses cause physical and mental problems in our horses.
Minerals, like any living thing, are very important to horses. A horse not only needs minerals to, for example, make it possible to absorb proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but it also has mental functions. Magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, below is a list to which it all contributes:
PHYSICAL
• For relaxation and pain relief;
• normal muscle function, against high muscle tone and stiffness;
• prevention of neuromuscular problems;
• the maintenance of normal bones & teeth;
• normal protein synthesis and cell division;
• neurotransmission and muscle contraction;
• energy metabolism and fatigue;
• treatment of colics in mares with disturbed hormonal housekeeping (extreme heat);
• support for insulin resistance and laminitis.
MENTALLY
• Calms stress;
• hypersensitivity and tension;
• for normal functioning of the nervous system;
• for a normal psychological function;
• for the brain and nerve functions involved in learning ability.
This makes magnesium an important mineral that gives strength to the skeleton, relaxes the muscles, is good for the nervous system and helps against stress. A good basis for a well-trainable and relaxed horse. In addition, it helps with insulin resistance and laminitis.
Magnesium deficiency
Research has shown that more and more horses suffer from a magnesium deficiency. A recent study by the health service showed that in sick horses the magnesium value was 55% below the norm and in healthy horses up to 23%. Magnesium is found in almost all horse feeds, but the magnesium content differs per feed. One of the causes of this shortage is the excessive supply of minerals and in incorrect proportions, so that so much calcium becomes available that it becomes unbalanced and the magnesium cannot be properly absorbed.
A shortage can also arise because a horse is heavier than normal or with mares that are pregnant. And because the average roughage contains less and less magnesium due to the use of fertilizer. Some years ago, various horse feed manufacturers therefore increased the percentage of magnesium by 15% in their products, the majority of which use magnesium oxide in their diet. This does not solve the problem, because the calcium content compared to the magnesium is often still too high.
Magnesium forms and absorb ability
There are different forms of magnesium, organic and inorganic. The organic ones include magnesium chelates, which are bonds between magnesium and an organic substance, such as magnesium taurate. The inorganic magnesium forms come in a water-soluble form, including the magnesium citrate and chloride, and a water-insoluble form, including the magnesium oxide.
An inexpensive form is magnesium sulfate (epsom salt), which unfortunately is hardly absorbed by the body. Magnesium oxide is better absorbed, but the best ( and most expensive ) forms are those in which the magnesium is bound to a protein: magnesium chelate
Scientifically, the magnesium chelates are most absorbable and the water-soluble magnesium forms are more absorbable than the water-insoluble form. In fact, the absorption of magnesium oxide is much lower compared to a magnesium citrate and completely compared to taurate. Nevertheless, the magnesium oxide is widely used by the horse feed manufacturers and we also have good experiences with it. Magnesium citrate is widely offered as a supplement for horses, and this processed form is often supplemented with a carrier, such as calcium. This can only have a negative effect on the horse and the effect of the magnesium if the calcium level is too high and the magnesium can no longer be absorbed.
Our experience
In practice, we see during our measurements that the horses themselves often choose the magnesium oxide, even though they have a choice of the different magnesium compounds from different manufacturers. Our experiences are therefore very good with magnesium oxide, we have seen for years the positive differences it makes in horses with a deficiency. The Horse Therapist`s main product is a custom-made herb mix, but due to the major magnesium deficiency problem, we add 83% pure magnesium oxide to our herb mixes to meet the horse's needs. It is therefore also cheap to buy from us.
Due to our way of measuring, we have not yet found any digestive problems due to magnesium oxide. As with all supplements, it is always advisable in horses with major problems with stomach, liver, kidneys and intestines to ask the attending veterinarian what the horse can and should not have.
Conclusion
In addition to the other forms, magnesium oxide is a very good and cheap way to provide your horse with magnesium. Take care with a magnesium supplement in which the carrier is calcium, as it can prevent the absorption of magnesium. Look closely at the packaging to see what the percentage of magnesium is and what form it is, so that you do not pay much for very little and you supplement more of a carrier than the mineral itself. An expensive magnesium supplement does not necessarily have to be the best for your horse.
Written by Jente Driessen from Horse Complete and translated by Sharon Bronsveld, The Horse Therapist